COLLINGWOOD coach Nathan Buckley believes Greater Western Sydney youngster Jeremy Cameron has similar traits to Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin.
Buckley's massive endorsement of Cameron came after he had watched the 20-year-old threaten to almost single-handedly consign the Magpies to another upset defeat.
Cameron bagged a career-best seven of the Giants' 10 goals, with his first seven goals coming from as many kicks.
He is the youngest player to achieve such a haul since Franklin kicked nine against Essendon in round six, 2007.
"Clearly we were on the receiving end of a fairly exceptional individual performance," Buckley said post-match.
"Just watching him play, not just against us tonight but the edits of the GWS boys over the last month or so, and seeing him develop over the last 18 months, he's got exceptional speed, he's got great belief, keeps his feet, he stays in the contest.
"The goal he kicked against (Lachlan) Keeffe out of that pocket was an example of that.
"He's strong in the air but he doesn’t rely on that.
"We sort of likened him a little bit to a Buddy Franklin type that can impact in the air but he does just as much damage on the ground with his follow-up.
"That's a big rap, but when a bloke's kicked seven goals on you out of 10, he's obviously performed pretty well."
Cameron has tallied 50.19 in 16 games this season. Franklin, in one less game, has 46.32.
Cameron has 79 goals from his 32 AFL games. At the same stage, a 19-year-old Franklin had kicked 48 goals.
If Franklin accepts the Giants' 'Godfather' offer, they will work in the same forward line – a nightmare for opposing backlines.
Giants' coach Kevin Sheedy said Cameron would eventually be a "great captain" of the Giants.
The coach described his prodigy as "a very, very, very good player" who was "probably the quickest big man in the game", and as exciting as any player he has coached.
"But I think that he's different. There's a vicious side to him. He's not just a pretty face," Sheedy said. "There's a grit and determination deep down (from) those soggy, muddy fields down there in the west of Victoria, and I think he's pretty determined to make it in his life."
Cameron appeared unfazed by the comparisons with Franklin.
"I don't really look into too much at all. I hardly read a paper at all so I don’t think there's any pressure on me," he said. "I just go out and want to play my game and that's how I've done it pretty much since I started playing football when I was 15."
He also modestly said: "It's the guys who kick it to me who need a pat on the back."
A Collingwood fan as a boy, Cameron said he was determined to perform well against some of his heroes.
"It was kind of a weird experience but last year it was probably worse. This year it was (about) getting on with the job," he said.
Cameron credited much of his development to working closely with Giants development coach Alan McConnell and Hawthorn great Dermott Brereton on things such as leading patterns.
Sheedy said the Giants have taken another positive step in their development, saying he had emphasized to his players the importance of learning to play well at the MCG.
Though disappointed with the result and a lapse early in the third quarter where the Pies slammed on four consecutive goals in five minutes, Sheedy believes his side is lasting longer in games against the better sides.
He also singled out rebounding defender Curtly Hampton for "a brilliant game for a boy who's probably played 30 games".
